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Saturday, September 27, 2008

This is my third Inte(Re)view, and I am very pleased to say that my friend Kelsey from Reading Keeps You Sane has joined me this time!

Enjoy!

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Chelsie: Thanks for joining me, Kelsey!

Kelsey: No problem, glad to be here!

Chelsie: Mind telling readers what today's interview is going to be about?

Kelsey: The novel Gone by Michael Grant.

Chelsie: This is one of the books that I've seen the cover to, but haven't heard much about it. Could you give us a brief summary of it?

Kelsey: Well, it about this small town on the coast of California and 20 miles or so from it, where everybody at the age fifteen and older disappears. Leaving babies, toddlers, and kids by themselves. Bullies rule, there's no police and they have to fend for themselves. That's basically what it's about.Chelsie: That sounds intense. Was it sort of a mystery? Suspense? Thriller? All of the above?

Kelsey: It definitely is a thriller with tons of suspense; you could not wait to find out what was going to happen, but not really a mystery. It's more about how a certain group of kids, mostly age fourteen, and not all of them friends, going through how they cope with living without adults. The book travels from a certain number of kids, some you don't know why they are in the book yet and question why the book goes towards their POV.

Chelsie: So what is it about the book that makes it quite so intriguing and suspenseful?

Kelsey: Hmm....I think it might be the things that happen when there aren't adults in the world and also a conflict that happens in the story the makes a big turn for the story and causes some troubles, but I'm not going to tell you what, because I don't want to ruin it.But, yeah, there are some big action scenes also that are terribly fun to read and the adventure goings of some of the characters you read about.

Chelsie: So, the story isn't something you hear about that often (or ever, in my case). Do you think Michael Grant did a good job with making it believable and realistic?

Kelsey: Yes, he definitely did. I really can't think of a better way. It's really thought provoking and Michael Grant was thorough and complete by the storyline. It was definitely believable and, well not necessarily realistic, since the plot does have a chunk of fantasy in it to do with why what happens and some kids do develop powers, like it says on the flap of the book. But other then that, yes, it is completely realistic.

Chelsie: Sounds like the type of book that makes you think about life in general... is this kind of the case with Gone?

Kelsey: Hmm, kind of. You think about what it would be like if that sort of thing did happen in real life, but the book is something you won't be able to stop reading, so you really don't think about it as much while reading it, but afterwards, it's crazy. But also, when lots of the kids want their mom's and dad's it makes you think about how much you would probably miss your parents if this did happen. So, yes it makes you think about life in general a bit.

Chelsie: With the depressing subject matter, would you say this is an emotional book? More so than other books you like to read.

Kelsey: I don't think its more emotional then a lot of books, you probably won't cry during this book, your eyes might tear up, but I doubt there'd be crying. Yes, there is some death in the novel, and the overall thing of having your parents and older siblings gone, yes that might be emotional, but hardly enough to make you cry. But there are definitely some terrible things that are sad and some scary parts in this novel.

Chelsie: On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best, what would you rate this book, and why?

Kelsey: A 5 probably, because the whole idea, the writing, the action and adventure, the characters, the emotion in this novel is incredible and perfectly done so, you never know what's going to happen, it's just a perfectly done novel, probably one of the best I have read this summer.

Chelsie: If you could say this book is similar to any others, what would it/they be and why?

Kelsey: Oh, that's a hard question because it is close to fantasy but not entirely there, but I don't read much fantasy and I have no idea if it would be close to any other books, but I kind of doubt it would be close to any other book out there, it is a very unique, original novel and the adventures and suspense in the novel are something you wouldn't think of, so no, I have to say, it isn't really similar to other books, at least that I've read.

Chelsie: Who would you recommend this book to?

Kelsey: Fantasy lovers, and also readers who just love a suspenseful read. Myself, I don't care for fantasy, but this novel, yes, had a chunk of fantasy in it, but it didn't overpower the novel, it was like, like a side dish to the whole. There is also some romance in the novel and the romance is perfect, although they are only fourteen. I think boy, girl, it doesn't matter, I finished this novel and now my brothers reading it. The main, main character, Sam, is a guy but you also get to see in the minds of several girls and boys.

Overall, I think a lot of people can read this novel and enjoy it, maybe not adults, but teens for sure.

Chelsie: So, is there anything else you'd like to add that hasn't been talked about yet?

Kelsey: Yes, this book is going to become a series, The Gone Series, I believe and the next book will be releasing next summer, I heard on Amazon that it is called Hunger, which fits perfectly for the novel, but them on Michael Grant's MySpace it read in a journal entry dated the end of July said it was Sacrifice, so I'm not sure which it is yet, but I personally think that Hunger is better. So check that out once you read this book because the book has kind of a cliffhanger ending.

Chelsie: Do you happen to know how many total books are going to be in the series, or is that undetermined?

Kelsey: No, I do not, unfortunately, but hopefully more then two.

Chelsie: Well, now that I have a book to look forward to reading, I'm going to thank you for being such an awesome Inte(Re)viewee!

Kelsey: Thank you, Chelsie for asking some awesome questions and having me be able to do this. I had a ton of fun!

Chelsie: No problem, and let me know if you'd be interested in doing it again sometime!

Kelsey: I sure will!

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If you're interested in being an Inte(Re)viewee, feel free to email me at bookluverreviews@hotmail.com!

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I'm happy to review anyone's books, and I'm always interested in trying out something new I wouldn't have thought of, so if you'd like to contact me about a potential review or other opportunity to get some publicity on my blog, please email me at bookluverreviews@hotmail.com . Or email me if you just feel like saying hi =D